Police: Six teens taken into custody; believed responsible for several armed robberies
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee police arrested six suspects who are believed to be responsible for several armed robberies in the City of Milwaukee.
According to police, officers from District 1 spotted a car matching the description of a vehicle whose occupants had committed an armed robbery in the 2100 Block of E. Bradford Ave. at 10:20p.m. on September 11.
The car was stolen earlier in the evening from an address in the 2600 block of N. Oakland Ave. Officers tried to stop the vehicle but it fled.
A pursuit was initiated and about six minutes later, the six suspects inside the car fled on foot after the car crashed into a light pole at 60th and w. Center St.
After a short foot pursuit all six suspects were taken into custody.
The male suspects are two 14-year-olds, one 16-year-old, and one 17-year-old.
The female suspects, and 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, are from Milwaukee.
No one was injured in the crash or during the pursuit.
Officers recovered property taken in two recent east side robberies.
Another night, another batch of armed robberies on Milwaukee's east side -- and another group of teens is arrested.
The most recent attack began near Bradford and Maryland, neighbors were alerted by the barking of two large dogs -- then a woman's screams.
A neighbor called the police, and within minutes they spotted a stolen car with a group of teens inside near 2nd and Locust. The car took off with police close behind until it crashed in the 2700 block of North 16th. Six people were arrested.
Wednesday night, a similar incident. Another group of teens arrested after several people were robbed at gunpoint on the city's east side. Five teens were arrested Wednesday evening accused of numerous armed robberies.
Police say since September 1st, they've arrested four crews of young criminals on crime sprees. Eighteen people in all, most of them juveniles.
"We believe the groups are responsible so far for at least 56 robberies, but we believe that total may be up to 100 going back this summer," said Milwaukee Police Chief, Ed Flynn.
Last week, another group of teens arrested after police say they tried to rob a group of people near 2nd and National. A victim shot and killed a 15-year-old robber.
In August, police arrested another group after a young gunman was shot and killed trying to rob an optical boutique in Fox Point.
"One individual admitted to stealing sixty cars and being involved in ten separate police pursuits," said Flynn.
One such pursuit ended with six people arrested Thursday night after they crashed a stolen car into a light pole and attempted to flee on foot. The recent robberies have also mirrored a spike in stolen cars.
"The stolen car is the gateway crime and now we're seeing an increase in robberies that relates to those stolen cars," Flynn said.
On Milwaukee's east side, awareness is high. A sign is posted inside an apartment building warning tenants to be cautious. The chief says all victims were busy with smartphones or wore headphones. The criminals have their own devices using social media as well.
"They use it to communicate with each other trying to tell each other where police are, they use it to brag, they use it to compete with each other," Flynn said.
FOX6 News is now learning a few pockets of people are thought to be behind the spree.
Flynn is working with the DA on the prosecutions, and he says this is a very complex situation and a very active investigation that will continue.